The Ones On The Ground (sequel to The One Who's Fallen)

Chapter 68

Raven's POV     (It got serious for some reason?)

I relax in the water, closing my eyes, and feel small waves hit me as Luna and Anya shift a bit on either side of me. I open my eyes when I feel an arm wrap around my waist and grin at Luna.

"You can't resist touching me," I tease.

"If I could not resist touching you, it would not be your back that I would be touching." Luna murmurs in response.

I choke on nothing in surprise and I can hear Anya chuckle beside me. I give her a look but she just shrugs and scoots closer to me, making water lap at my collarbones.

"Where do you want to go from here?" I ask. "I mean, we've talked theoretically about things but what happens when what we've talked about actually happens? Like we've said we want kids, but what do we do? Do we wait for a kid to come to us needing a home? Do we try to find Lucas? Do we look into adoption agencies or those places that house orphans when we get back to Polis? Or are we not ready yet, and should we wait?" I ramble.

Anya places a hand on my shoulder. "Breathe, Raven."

I take a deep breath and let it out. "I'm just... I just worry. Because we've said we want this, want to adopt kids, or at least have them, but I don't know... I don't know when, or how. And sometimes those worries come and they just refuse to go away."

"Please, Rae. Talk to us when they come, alright?" Anya says gently. "We can talk things out with you. This is not the sort of thing you should keep to yourself."

I nod. "Alright. And you guys as well, I don't want you guys worrying about things when we can talk it out."

Luna squeezes me gently and Anya nods.

"We should talk about this now," Luna says. "Are we all certain we want kids? That is the first question."

We all pause and consider what she asked. At first, I balked because we've already talked about this, are they going to change their minds? But definitely a good thing to be sure about. So I imagine us as parents (we're awesome parents and the cool aunts, of course). With a little kid or two or three running around us, family picnics... But I don't just imagine the good things, because I'm not disillusioned enough to think that everything about having kids, being a family, is perfect. I know from experience that it's not. I imagine the tantrums, the exhausting days, the long nights (especially if there's a baby involved).

But no matter what I try to imagine, even stuff like cleaning up kid puke, my mind keeps going to the good things. So yeah, I'm sure, and I say as much.

"I am too," Luna says. "Anya?"

Anya has a soft look on her face that she rarely has unless she's with us. "I am as well."

We don't jump right back into the conversation, instead taking a moment to silently acknowledge how big this is for us. Since I'm in the middle, I get cuddled on both sides.

"The next thing we should ponder is whether or not we are ready now to have kids, or soon," Anya says.

I think about it. If I were to have a kid right now, if we were to adopt one tomorrow or try to figure out if having one of our own is possible, would I panic? Would I be scared? I bite my lower lip and shrug.

"Honestly, I'm ready whenever you guys are. As long as I have you, I'm good."

Luna nods. "I agree."

"I do as well. When does not matter to me, as long as I have you both."

"So that leaves Lucas," Luna says. "I am not saying we should get our hopes up, because he may have been adopted or taken in by a good family already. I am merely using him as an... In a way, as an example. A possibility."

"That makes sense. Lucas is a good kid, a smart kid. He may have been adopted or taken in already. But Gods, I hope not," I admit. "I really like him."

Anya and Luna murmur their agreement before Luna continues speaking. "If we were to go to Lucas today and find him available, would you be willing to adopt him? Do we have what he needs? Can we be what he needs?"

Another bout of silence comes over us. I think about this one harder than I did for even the last two. Because Lucas is a special kid, a great kid. His mind just works differently than ours. So would we be a good fit for him? Could we become what he needs? We have the resources to get him what he needs, that much I know. But would we be truly willing to learn how to act around him and stuff to help him? I know the answer to that immediately. Yes, of course. We don't know Lucas very well, but the three of us have already grown to love that cute kid. I have no doubt we would be willing to do whatever we possibly can for him.

"I would do whatever I can for him. And us possibly adopting him isn't purely our choice. So if he wants to be with us as much as we would want to be with him, I think we definitely make it work. But that's just my opinion," I say.

"I agree, Raven. As long as we are all full-heartedly in it, we can do anything. Including hopefully making him happy," Anya says.

"I am 'in it.' " Luna uses air quotes, knowing I find it cute when she does.

We take turns kissing each other softly and then take a few moments to just relax.

"After that surprisingly serious conversation, I think we deserve to sit here and soak."

Luna hums in agreement and I let my muscles relax, closing my eyes. Warm water hits my face just a couple moments later and I sputter, opening my eyes. Anya's smirking, giving away who it was easily.

"Seriously? I didn't think you had it in you."

"It is not the worst thing I have had in me." Anya jokes and winks at me.

I shake my head at her as she scoots away from me, raising one tantalizing eyebrow while Luna laughs. So I splash her.

"Not so funny now, is it?" I tease.

I squeal when Luna lifts me up and out of the water, making both her and Anya laugh.

"I guess it is, striksora (little bird)." Anya says, coming behind me on the other side, trapping me between my two nearly naked, gorgeous girlfriends. I'm not complaining in the least.

Next chapter, back to Clexa? Maybe? Idk yet. But oh my god, I love these nerds! They're so cute! And I love how they actually COMMUNICATE. That's my pet peeve when I'm watching shows bc honestly communication would solve like 90% of the problems on shows. Anywho! Thank you all for reading and for your lovely comments! Stay awesome!